Overview

Applied Ethics is more than a study of theory—it is a call to action. This module is designed to empower students to become ethicists who use moral reasoning to challenge societal norms and drive meaningful change. Adopting a collaborative think tank approach, the module invites students to engage deeply with real-world ethical issues. The journey begins with a collective decision on the topics to explore, spanning areas such as healthcare, technology, environmental ethics, business, politics, and social justice. Each topic is introduced with an initial lecture that provides essential theoretical grounding, exploring key concepts, ethical frameworks, and real-world contexts. Building on this foundation, students transition into workshop-style think tank sessions. In these collaborative spaces, they will work in teams to examine ethical dilemmas, evaluate stakeholder perspectives, and craft innovative solutions that address pressing moral challenges. Acting as ethical consultants and change-makers, students will produce practical outputs, such as policy proposals, campaigns, or interventions, aimed at promoting justice and human flourishing. This module equips students with the skills and confidence to apply ethical principles to real-world contexts, driving social change and challenging the status quo. By the end of the module, students will not only have gained a deeper understanding of ethical theories but will have actively used them to reimagine and reshape the moral landscape of modern society.

module convenor. Each year students will be given the opportunity to study a range of ethical issues including some of the following: • Ethical issues in healthcare, such as medical decision-making, euthanasia, and organ donation • Corporate social responsibility, including ethical issues related to product safety, environmental impact, and labor practices • Cybersecurity and data privacy, including issues related to surveillance, data breaches, and cybercrime • Ethical considerations in scientific research, such as animal testing and genetic engineering • Ethical issues related to artificial intelligence, such as the impact of automation on employment and ethical principles in algorithmic decision-making • Ethical considerations in law enforcement, such as the use of force and racial profiling • Bioethics, including issues related to cloning, stem cell research, and gene editing • Ethical issues in international development, including poverty alleviation, fair trade, and environmental sustainability • Ethical dilemmas in the media, such as freedom of speech, censorship, and journalistic integrity • Ethical issues in education, including academic integrity and equal access to education • Ethical issues related to globalization and economic inequality, such as the exploitation of workers in developing countries and unequal distribution of wealth • Ethical considerations in environmental policy, such as climate change and resource depletion • Ethical issues in the food industry, such as the use of pesticides and genetic modification • Ethical considerations in the use of military force, such as just war theory and civilian casualties • Ethical issues related to social media, such as cyberbullying and online harassment.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(D- to D+) Work in this band will demonstrate a cursory knowledge of the issues and arguments within both historical and contemporary moral philosophy, but might show a lack of understanding, and will not demonstrate an ability to analyse or evaluate these arguments. Work in this band will fail to develop a successful argument relevant to the content of this course. -good -(C- to B+) Work in this band will demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the issues and arguments within both historical and contemporary moral philosophy, and (for the higher grades) will be able to apply that knowledge and understanding to the construction of an argument relevant to the content of this course. This argument might show some minor misunderstandings, or might not be presented with impeccable structure, but will nonetheless demonstrate the student's knowledge and understanding of the subject area, and will show that they are capable of constructing a logical and coherent argument. -excellent -(A- to A*) Work in this band will demonstrate comprehensive and very detailed understanding of historical and contemporary moral philosophy, based on extensive background reading, and will demonstrate an outstanding ability to construct a logical and coherent argument relevant to the content of this course.

Learning Outcomes

• be fully appraised of the complexity and ambiguity involved in arguments relating to issues of contemporary concern

• critically evaluate ethical controversies with reference to specific case studies

• demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the relevant study skills and be able to present arguments in a clear and convincing manner, when presented both orally and in written form.

• engage in critical dialogue with a range of ethicists on specific issues of contemporary concern